Things to do in

Agia Pelagia

Sail with us to the exotic Dia island on our large and comfortable sailing yachts. Our journey begins at the Heraklion Old venetian harbor. As we start, we pass by the glorious Koules fortress which is built right at the entrance of the marina. A few minutes later we exit the main port of Heraklion and we set sails for our destination. As you admire the beautiful Cretan sea and enjoy the feel of sailing our crew will tell you about the legend of Dia island and its history. About 1 hour later we arrive to the first bay of Dia. There you can enjoy the crystal turquoise waters and our many water activities such as snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding and more. While at anchor in the bay our crew will be happy to offer you any piece of equipment for our water activities and serve you plentiful drinks so please don't hesitate to request it from them. About 1 hour later our delicious Mediterranean menu is served and includes Greek salad and several appetizers, while the main course is shrimp pasta (we also offer vegetarian and gluten free versions of the menu upon request). You can also accompany your meal with the finest wine, beer, ice tea or soft drinks. Around 30 minutes later we sail to a different bay of the island where you can relax and enjoy the crystal waters and our refreshing fruit salad full of tropical and local fruits. There you will have about 30-60 minutes before we set sails once again to Heraklion and say goodbye to the beautiful scenery full of joy and great memories. You can choose between the morning or the afternoon cruise with the sunset view. *In case the weather does not permit or there is not enough time for a visit to the second bay there will be extra time in the first one and the fruit salad will be served there. We look forward to welcome you on board for an unforgettable day!

Kick off your shoes and come onboard an elegant yacht on a sailing tour with us. Embark on a private cruise or a group trip to Dia Island from Heraklion and explore this rugged island with plenty of time to swim, snorkel, or relax on its pristine shores. Enjoy a glass of wine or a refreshment. Benefit from optional pick-up from your hotel or apartment, and then relax on a 1-hour sailing cruise to Dia Island on a luxury yacht with your family or friends. After dropping anchor in the romantic Gulf of Saint George, spend your day discovering an idyllic location with great history, such as the underwater ancient Minoan port, which was one of the favorite destinations of the explorer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Enjoy fishing, swimming in the crystal clear water, swim ashore and walk among the wild nature of the island, or just relaxing in the quiet bay overlooking Heraklion. Snorkeling and fishing equipment are provided for your comfort and convenience by the attentive crew, along with unlimited refreshments and seasonal fruits.

Begin the tour at the Peninsula Resort and Spa with a short theoretical introduction and a quad driving lesson before the adventure begins. Follow a beautiful off-road cliff path along the sea and into the heights of Achlada away from traffic and in the midst of the most beautiful nature the area has to offer. Enjoy breathtaking views over Agia Pelagia until reaching Heraklion, then continue to the ancient and abruptly abandoned ghost village of Achlada.  Find out more about the background of the village and the traditional Cretan way of life and share a special personal moment with the last two remaining inhabitants of the village. Stroll through this otherwise inaccessible village at leisure. From the heights of Achlada, pass in between the mountains surrounded by breathtaking nature before continuing to Fodele, a traditional Cretan village, also called the village of the oranges and birthplace of the famous painter El Greco.  Explore Crete’s culture and marvel at its local handicrafts. Take some time for shopping and a visit to the museum or to the village’s orthodox churches. Sit back and enjoy a famous freshly squeezed orange juice made from the local orange trees for a more relaxing experience. Return to the hotel at 1.00 p.m., just in time for lunch.

This is the ideal diving course for those who want to try scuba diving but do not have a diving certificate. Enjoy a pre-dive lesson and always be accompanied by a certified instructor. Begin your day with the basic theory on diving and the skills necessary to do so. You will then move on to real-life diving under the supervision of a certified instructor. During the dive, you will have the opportunity to explore the bottom of the sea in Agia Pelagia, learn the basic commands, and get the chance to observe up-close the fish and sea creatures living near the seabed.

Your full-day excursion to Samaria Gorge begins with pickup in Heraklion and a drive to Omalos, in the heart of the White Mountains. Enjoy breakfast before setting out on your challenging 10-mile (17 kilometer) hike. The trek will take you over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees and along a river by fresh-water springs. Along the way, you’ll have spectacular views of Crete’s most beautiful mountain range, and you are also likely to see mountain goats roaming in the wild. You will be accompanied by a professional mountain escort who speaks English, German and Greek. Your escort will be there to explain all the necessary information about your hike and provide you with the tickets for the entrance and ferry. After your breakfast you will enter the Samaria Gorge, where you can walk at your own pace as your guide waits at the end of the group to help you out if you need them. At the end of the trek you’ll visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. You can enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. Late in the afternoon you’ll board a boat that will take you from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, where your bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the starting point.

Our crew will meet at the Old Venetian port and welcome you on board, where you will be given a briefing about safety and boat handling. We set our sails and we are off to our destination,the beautiful Dia island. Dia is an uninhabited island, 7 nautical miles north of Heraklion and is protected by the Natura 2000 project because of its biodiversity. Our trip there lasts almost one hour, during which you can enjoy the beauty of the sea, the silence and calmness and get informed on eco sailing and marine life around Crete or participate in the sailing activities with our skilled skipper! We set anchor on either Agios Georgios or Panagia bay (depending on the weather conditions), which are located on the south part of the island. Both coves are known for their green, crystal waters surrounded by the protected wildlife, like the medium sized “Falco Eleonorae” the lizard Podarcis erchardii schiebeli, the wild goat Capra Aegagrus Cretica, an important rabbit population which belongs to the endemic subspecies Oryctolagus cuniculus cnossicus and the monkseal Monachus monachus. Ask our team on everything you want to know about the history and the myths of this island! For about one hour and a half, you will enjoy these beautiful water with swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing or socialising with your fellow adventurers! Cool refreshments and seasonal fruit will accompany the fun! And if you are already feeling hungry after a full morning our skipper and host has prepared for you a warm lunch on spot, made exclusively from fresh and local ingredients! After your lunch and perhaps after a quick dive, we will set our sails again to return back to Heraklion Venetian port. Have your cameras ready in case we spot some of our lovely mammal friends, the dolphins.

Discover one of the most famous beaches on the south coast of Crete. Travel through the wild Kourtaliotis Gorge where you will stop to see the magnificent landscapes and the springs of the river Preveli that flow inside the gorge and which result in the river at Preveli Beach. Visit the south of Crete and stop at the viewpoint above where you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view and take some fantastic pictures. Enjoy a full-day excursion from Heraklion to Preveli Beach on a bus trip with a local guide. Discover South Crete's Grand River, Kourtaliotikos Gorge, and a colony of Theophrastus palm trees. Sunbathe on the sandy beach, swim in the turquoise waters, watch for wildlife, or hike regional trails.  Begin your tour with a bus ride from the north coast to Preveli Beach, where you can swim in the turquoise Mediterranean water or stroll along the beach. Look for a rock shaped like a heart, known as The Stone of Lovers, and marvel at the steep cliffs and misty hilltops of nearby Kourtaliotikos Gorge.  Continue your tour by hiking along the banks of the Grand River to discover the Forest full of Theophrastus palm trees. Hike further up the river trail to a canyon and beach where you can further swim, hike, or sunbathe, before heading back down the path to the bus and returning to Heraklion. 10:45 Arrival at Preveli – free time 15:00 Departure from Preveli 16:50 Arrival in Heraklion Route: 210 km Duration: app. 7hours

Meet your guide at the Peninsula Hotel and Spa in Agia Pelagia and start with driving tutorial session. Practice driving to ensure that you are confident with your quad bike. Cruise along lonely paths far away from main traffic that wind through scenic vistas.  Explore a cliff path that overlooks the sea and arrive at the traditional village of Achlada. Find out about the background of the village and hear about the ancient and traditional Cretan way of life. Share a special moment with the three last inhabitants of this village. Enjoy a drive and a walk through this village which is not accessible by any other means. Continues through the mountains to the mountain village of Rogdia where yiuo can gaze out at the bay of Heraklion. View the 16th century tower of Modino, a chateau that was once occupied by feudal lords.  Have some free time to watch as the colors of the sunsetting between the sea the mountains. Ride back to the meeting point after the sun sets. Please note that in the month of September the tour is shorter due to the earlier sunset. The return of the tour in September will most likely be at 20:30. There may only be a visit of one village. The tasting and sunset however will still be included.

Stop to purchase a hearty breakfast in Rethymno on this full-day Samaria Gorge excursion. Begin your trek at Xiloskalo, where you'll enter the vast, 18-kilometer canyon. Hike along a path that follows the route of the ancient Taras River. Admire the caves that formed a natural shelter for the Cretans in war times and now are home to wild goats. See the abandoned village of Samaria before reaching the Iron Gates, 3 kilometers before the end of the gorge. Rest and enjoy lunch (at your own expense) at the small fishing village of Agia Roumeli. Cool off with a refreshing swim in the Libyan Sea before boarding the ship that takes you back to the village of Sfakia.

Dive into a new adventure and experience this scuba activity suitable for first-timers. Enjoy 45 minutes of theoretical training and 45 minutes inside the water.  Learn from a local experienced and licensed instructor who will teach you how to breathe and move underwater. Get introduced to the marvelous experience of diving. U will learn about the use of your diving equipment, hand signals, the sea life of Ligaria and more! Enjoy a pickup from your accommodation.